Today I went to Staples and bought a new printer and Microsoft Office and PDF converter software. In the parking garage, I put the bag of software in the bottom of my shopping cart, with the new printer balanced at the the top. I stopped in the farmer's market and bought another plastic bag of food, which I added to the bottom of the shopping cart. When I got home, I found that the Staples bag with the new software in it was missing.

I would be very grateful if someone found it if they could return it to me, no questions asked, or a reward, please.

Friday, October 21, 2011

The gloomy, dreary, depressing and empty presence of Roosevelt Island's Main Street retail corridor will soon be nothing more than a bad memory. The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC), a NY State Public Benefit Corporation, that operated as the Landlord for our Main Street Stores turning Main Street into a replica of a commercial corridor in the former Soviet Union is now out of the Roosevelt Island retail business. RIOC has been replaced by a private sector developer, Hudson/Related, the developers of Southtown Riverwalk Buildings, as the Master Leaseholder for Main Street.

David Kramer, a principal of Hudson, and his retail team presented their vision of a revitalized and thriving Main Street last night at a Town Hall Meeting organized by the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA). Here's what Mr. Kramer had to say.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan and Queens), state Sen. Mike Gianaris (D-Astoria), Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) and a representative of Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria) announced Wednesday that the Grand Station post office in Astoria will not be closed.

The United States Postal Service had the post office on its list of potential closings, but the elected officials responded after hearing an outpouring of concerns by residents. Maloney delivered a petition with over 1,000 signatures to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.

“Because of the community and the hard work of the elected officials, we have kept this post office open,” Maloney said....

Congresswoman Maloney's office reports that the status of the Queens Post Office is unrelated to whether the Roosevelt Island Post Office will be closed or remain open and that the US Post Office advises Ms. Maloney's office that no NY County Post Office on the Study list for closure has been removed from the list yet including the Roosevelt Island Post Office.

During last night's Main Street Retail Town Hall Meeting, Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) President Matt Katz stated that 2000 signatures have been collected so far on RIRA's petition to keep the Roosevelt Island Post office open.

You can still sign the online petition to keep Roosevelt Island's Post office open. Here's the link. There may also be petitions available in your building lobby or just contact RIRA.

More information on the possible closing of the Roosevelt Island Post Office available from previous post.

Stanford University President John Hennessey visited Roosevelt Island yesterday. It was a windy, rainy and cool afternoon as Mr. Hennessey exited the Roosevelt Island Tram. Fortunately, there were no problems riding the Tram over from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island - it would not have been an opportune moment for the Tram to start rocking and rolling over the East River with the Stanford President on Board.

I met Mr. Hennessey at the Tram and we conducted an interview regarding Stanford's plan for the proposed Roosevelt Island campus of NYC Applied Sciences & Engineering School as we walked north on Main Street towards PS/IS 217 where Mr. Hennessey was to meet with parents and school officials.

... Stanford proposes to replicate the role it has played in the growth of Silicon Valley, as an incubator of high-tech talent, innovation and business. “We know how to get young people involved in start-ups,” said Mr. Hennessy, whose campus has spawned Hewlett Packard, Cisco Systems, Yahoo, Google and countless smaller tech companies. “Cornell’s disadvantage is all its start-ups put together are smaller than Google.”

Cornell’s plans are more tailored to New York’s particular economy, with four hubs: technology for cleaner and more efficient building; information science and engineering for health care; social mobile networking, particularly in fields like media and advertising; and what it calls “intelligent trustworthy systems,” which include areas like cloud computing and information security....

Last Thursday October 14, Stanford University President John Hennessey briefed the Stanford Faculty Senate on plans for Stanford's proposed Roosevelt Island New York City campus at the site of the current Goldwater Hospital campus. According to Stanford University News:

President John Hennessy told the Faculty Senate Thursday that establishing an applied sciences campus in New York City would answer a critical U.S. need – to create a second major innovation center in science and technology in the country.

"Quite frankly, Silicon Valley has done terrific, but if the country is going to maintain its leadership in this area it needs more than Silicon Valley," Hennessy said at the start of his presentation on Stanford's proposal to build a graduate campus in New York City focused on engineering, information technology and entrepreneurship....

... "We are going to make large, large investments in technology to make this work," he said. "The good news is that technology has gotten to a price where it's reasonably affordable. We can easily run 10 full-bandwidth high-definition streams between the two campuses simultaneously – at easily affordable prices. We'll be able to do some things and really try to take that technology to the next level."...

... "One of the great advantages of this location is you can build a campus," Hennessy said. "We have studied other locations in Manhattan, but the minute you move to Manhattan what you're going to end up with is one, or possibly two, high-rise buildings. Here we have a lot of open space."

The campus would include housing, classrooms, labs, offices, business incubator space, amenities – such as fitness centers, shops and restaurants – and open space, and just beyond the campus, two parks – Southpoint Park and Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park.

He said the New York City campus, when completed, would have 1.1 million square feet of academic space; 575,000 square feet of housing; 175,000 square feet of amenities; and 50,000 square feet for incubating new businesses.

The campus would grow in phases – from 2016 to 2038 – to eventually accommodate 100 faculty members and 2,000 master's and PhD students....

... He said construction costs are likely to range from $1 billion to $2 billion....

... Seeking greater access to an urban world rich in art, finance, drama, music, high-end media, deep-pocketed philanthropy, tweedy East Coast faculty and diverse students, Stanford is putting the finishing touches on a 500-page application for a second campus in New York City, due to land on Mayor Michael Bloomberg's desk in two weeks....

... This is not some satellite campus, Hennessy stressed. Rather, Stanford will adopt a "one university, two campus" model, linked by technology, he said.

... Bloomberg seeks to make technology a broader part of New York's economy -- recognizing its role in the future of finance and media. He wants a university that has a track record of creating new companies and jobs. Technology is also a big part of how the cities of the future are going to survive -- through more efficient use of energy, transportation and other resources....

... The design, not yet publicly released, calls for up to 1.9 million square feet of construction, with buildings ranging from six to 41 floors with much open space. It is adjacent to a park at the southern tip of Roosevelt Island.

"It's in the middle of Manhattan, yet has a small village feel," Hennessy said.

There are opportunities for Stanford to explore academic disciplines not available here, such as urban design and technology....

As Cornell finishes preparing a proposal for a New York City tech campus, the university's governing body has thrown its full weight of support behind it.

During a special meeting Oct. 12 of the Cornell Board of Trustees at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, the board voted unanimously to endorse Cornell's NYC Tech Campus plan. The official proposal is due to Mayor Michael Bloomberg's office Oct. 28

... "It is a logical extension of what we already do," Zubrow said. "Part of the reason why the board is so excited is that it's such a natural fit." This includes, she said, an existing reputation for tech transfer; the 50,000 Cornellians that reside in the New York metropolitan area; and, of course, Weill Cornell Medical College and the many other programs across all the colleges that have sites in New York City.

The research, startups and spinoffs to be generated from the Cornell tech campus will underscore New York as "the great crossroads city," said trustee Andrew Tisch '71. "There is such dynamism, enthusiasm and energy here, and we believe New York needs to be the tech center of the 21st century."...

Cornell University and The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology announced today a new partnership to create a world-class applied science and engineering campus in New York City, as outlined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The NYC Tech Campus on Roosevelt Island will combine the full spectrum of both institutions' academic strengths, as well as Cornell's entrepreneurial culture and deep connection to the city's emerging tech sector and the Technion's global leadership in commercialization and technology transfer. This partnership will transform New York City into a world hub of innovation and technology commercialization....

Although Roosevelt Island appears to be the favorite, or at least the most publicized site for the NYC Applied Sciences & Engineering School, Crains NY Business reports that other sites are being considered. According to Crains:

While Cornell and Stanford universities have painted the town red to advance their proposals to build a $1 billion tech campus on Roosevelt Island, other prospective bidders in the city's competition have flown under the radar.

But now three institutions—New York University, Columbia University and Carnegie Mellon University—are unveiling details of prospective campuses at other sites around the city, adding a twist to an ongoing dogfight between the engineering powerhouses from Ithaca and Palo Alto....

Each school's Progress Report (1) measures student year-to-year progress, (2) compares the school to peer schools and (3) rewards success in moving all children forward, especially children with the greatest needs. Strong Progress Report results are the basis for monetary rewards for school leaders, and poor results are an important factor in determining whether schools require intensive support or intervention. For more information,...

I asked Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217's PTA and Principal for a comment on the overcrowding issue raised by the Fox report and the D letter Grade from DOE. PTA Vice President Nikki Leopold replied:

The overcrowding issue came as a surprise to all of us, including the administration who received an overwhelming amount of new registration during the month of August. Over the last two years, the PS/IS PTA and administration succeeded in creating a school environment in which parents would not hesitate to send their children, as evidenced by the fact that we now have unprecedented enrollment. The down side is that it puts us in the same position as so many other city schools as we struggle with large class size and steep budget cuts. The school is committed to addressing this problem to the best of our ability, but it will continue to be a challenge.

Phoebe shared with my your inquiry about the D grade on the school report card. As we received a B last year, the D grade was a devastating blow to our school, especially in light of the tremendous progress made in the last two years. While the grades just came out last week, the administration is in the process of reviewing the new evaluation method put forth by the DOE, which led to the D report card grade determination. Through this process, the administration will have a clearer picture of what changes need to take place, a key factor in providing parents with an honest and transparent response. Through my experience with the public school system, I've learned that things are most often not what they seem on the surface especially regarding budgets and school evaluations. It is my hope that our school community can ban together as we navigate the details of the unfortunate news. As with the class size issue, the PS/IS 217 Administration, in partnership with the PTA Executive Board, is committed to confronting the difficult questions that will need to be addressed regarding DOE's report card determination.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to respond, and I apologize for taking so long to get back to you. As Nikki mentioned, we were overwhelmed and surprised by the class sizes that we found ourselves facing as the school year started, especially in the Kindergarten and 5th Grade classes. We were offered no recourse by the DOE, as this problem faces schools citywide, however we have managed to creatively address the situation in a way that, we think, ensures the most benefit to the classes affected. At the Kindergarten level, we have created a Kindergarten/First Grade bridge class, which brings the number in those classes to 25 each (where it had been 29 in Kindergarten). This will ensure both more individual student attention, as well as develop what we hope will be a mutually beneficial opportunity for 1st Graders to model expectations to their younger classmates.

This kind of solution was unfortunately not available to us for our 5th Grade, which started the year at 34 students. We sought out partnership with PS 183, which is under limit in their 5th grade class, and they were able to offer - and have two families accept - placement at that school. This brings the 5th Grade class to 32, which is within the contractual limits of the UFT, and has fortunately now been capped at that number by the DOE.

Last week, the New York City Department of Education announced it was evaluating the futures of dozens of schools which had earned bad grades in the department's annual progress reports.

This was welcome transparency compared with the early years of Progress Grades, when DOE announced school-closing lists as faits accompli, without community feedback or participation.

But while the public is learning more about what might be done after this year's round of progress reports, understanding of the reports themselves is not widespread—largely because the reports employ a complicated formula that has evolved since 2007, when the DOE began rating city schools with letter grades....

A former student teacher at Roosevelt Island's PS/IS 217 made a very interesting documentary about the No Child Left Behind policy:

After spending a year as a student teacher in a New York City elementary school, documentary filmmaker Lerone Wilson explores the effects of George W. Bush's momentous No Child Left Behind Act on schools across the country.

Everyone six months of age and older should receive an annual influenza vaccine. In addition, these groups especially need flu vaccine every year:

Adults age 50 and over (especially those over 65);
All children from age 6 months to 18 years
All persons age 19 to 49 years with chronic medical conditions, including heart disease, pulmonary disorders (including asthma), diabetes, kidney disease, hemoglobinopathies, and compromised immune systems (HIV or immunosuppressive therapy);
People with conditions that can cause breathing problems (such as cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other neuromuscular disorders);
Pregnant women;
All residents of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities;
Caregivers and household members of infants younger than 6 months (babies can get the flu at this age, but are too young for a flu shot);
All close contacts of high-risk groups listed above, such as household members and persons providing home care; and
All health care workers.

Click here to download the Vaccine Administration Record (VAR) Informed Consent Form. Print it out, sign and date it and bring it with you when you come in for your flu shot.

FAQs

Q: I heard this year’s flu strain is expected to be the same as last year’s. Do I really need a flu shot?
A: Yes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regardless of the expected strain, you should get vaccinated each and every year.*

Q: Should children and seniors get vaccinated, too?
A: Yes. The CDC recommends annual flu shots for everyone six months and older.

Q: What’s the benefit of getting a flu shot early?
A: The earlier you get a flu shot, the sooner you’re protected.**

Q: Is it possible to get vaccinated too early in the season?
A: No, a flu shot will protect you all season long, even through peak flu periods like February and March.

Q: After I get a flu shot, how long does it take to be fully protected?
A: The vaccine takes approximately two weeks to protect against the three most prevalent flu strains.

Q: Are Duane Reade pharmacists really experts when it comes to flu shots?
A: Absolutely! Each Duane Reade pharmacist goes through an extensive training program to be able to provide immunization services.

Q: Will my doctor be notified if I get a flu shot at Duane Reade?
A: Yes. We’re happy to send your doctor a copy of your immunization record. Just let us know.

Can you imagine how Stanford, or any other University's presence might change Roosevelt Island?

It will also change Western Queens. The NY Daily News reported yesterday:

Building a hi-tech campus on Roosevelt Island would be a major boon for Queens, elected officials and business leaders said Monday, as two top schools threw their support behind the location.

Both Cornell University and Stanford University officials said they favored Roosevelt Island over the two other sites being considered for the creation of an applied sciences and engineering campus - Governors Island and the Brooklyn Navy Yard....

Image From Congresswoman Maloney's Office of r., David Brause, Chairman of the Long Island City Business Improvement District; Gayle Baron, President of the Long Island City Partnership; Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney; NY State Senator Michael Gianaris

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Michael Gianaris, Long Island City Partnership President Gayle Baron, and business and community leaders in Queens today voiced their strong support for Applied Sciences NYC, a Bloomberg administration initiative to site a state-of-the-art applied sciences campus in New York City, and specifically for a City-owned site on Roosevelt Island and to provide the new engineering institution with up to $100 million in infrastructure investments.

In remarks delivered today, Congresswoman Maloney said, “An applied sciences and engineering facility on Roosevelt Island offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spur western Queens’ transformation into a world-class hub of technology and entrepreneurship and to generate significant long-term job growth for the borough. The Long Island City central business district offers an ideal location for start-ups created by the new campus’ faculty, students, and graduates, featuring affordable and accessible space near convenient transportation and a growing residential community. Those of us who represent western Queens or Roosevelt Island are thrilled with the enormous opportunities this could provide for our constituents, and have pledged to work together to land this groundbreaking initiative in our own backyard, where it will generate well-paying jobs. The New York City Economic Development Corporation projects that a new or expanded applied sciences facility could have a multiplier effect and create more than 400 new businesses across the city, generating billions of dollars in new economic activity and creating tens of thousands of jobs. These jobs will not only benefit academics and researchers; they will also benefit New Yorkers of all skill levels, as universities and technology businesses employ people in a diverse range of jobs and generally pay higher salaries to employees without college degrees than other sectors of the economy.

“In addition, Roosevelt Island’s proximity to western Queens makes it likely that this community will benefit most from the businesses spun off by a new campus there. Roosevelt Island provides an idyllic setting for students and faculty, and offers proximity to new and existing businesses in Long Island City, Astoria, Sunnyside, and Woodside. And start-ups would be able to join a growing core of science and engineering-based businesses and institutions in western Queens, including JetBlue, the RCN Corporation, Schick Technologies and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as well as a expanding center of film and television production.”

State Senator Michael Gianaris said, “Roosevelt Island is the ideal location for this new facility because it complements western Queens' growing reputation as a hub of job growth, technology and entrepreneurship. Its close proximity to Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and Astoria would allow students, faculty and visitors to easily travel to and from campus, prompting exponential growth in western Queens' economic development through job creation, revenue increases and new business incentives.”

Other elected officials submitted written statements about the proposal. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall said, “An applied sciences facility located on Roosevelt Island could be the next best thing that happens to Long Island City. Such a campus, easily within reach of Queens by subway or the Roosevelt Island Bridge, would have enormous benefits attached to it. It would be fertile ground for growing leaders of tomorrow, create hundreds of jobs and generate millions in tax revenue. Local labor and businesses in Long Island City and beyond would be involved in the creation and operation of a university in a unique environment, while the campus received support, millions of dollars for infrastructure improvements and land from the City of New York.

“Long Island City has undergone a revolution in recent years with thousands of new housing units, retail activity and open space that makes it one of the most attractive waterfront vistas in New York City.

“We’re calling for continued growth and renewal for Long Island City and all of New York City. Interested schools can seize this opportunity, lead the way to future research and technology and have a presence in New York City that will generate worldwide interest.”

In a written statement, Assembly Member Catherine Nolan said, “The proposal to site a new institution of engineering and applied sciences in Roosevelt Island will bring significant benefits to residents and businesses in Long Island City and western Queens. It will create good jobs, create a multiplier effect that will benefit existing businesses in the area, and reinforce the strong ties between western Queens and our neighbors on Roosevelt Island.”

“In order for the technical campus on Roosevelt Island to be a success, there must be significant investment in Western Queens,” said Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, who attended today community meeting for local business leaders hosted by Congresswoman Maloney and the Long Island City Partnership. “I support efforts to make Queens the borough of technical innovation, bringing well-paying jobs into the communities of Long Island City, Dutch Kills, Sunnyside, and Woodside.”

Proposal are due from applying schools by October 28 and a decision will be made by New York City before the end of the year. More information on the proposed NYC Applied Sciences & Engineering School proposals for Roosevelt Island available at these previous posts.

Have you noticed a recent change in the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Booth located across from the F Train Subway Station? Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) President Judy Berdy did and shares these two pictures of Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) staff installing a coating on the Public Safety Booth

Image From Judy Berdy

which allows a person inside to see out but does not allow anyone outside to see in.

Image From Judy Berdy

As you walk by the Public Safety Booth, you cannot tell if anyone is inside but do see a reflection of yourself. Kind of creepy in a way but just as you or I cannot see inside the Public Safety Booth from outside, neither can a potential criminal tell whether there is a Public Safety Officer inside either. I don't know if that is the reason for the one way viewing but I will ask RIOC and update if they respond.

Stolen Property - PSD made a search of Roosevelt Island with negative results.

Where did the marijuana and alcohol arrests take place, what time of day, were those arrested Roosevelt Island residents, were they adults or juveniles and any other information you think is relevant to the Roosevelt Island community.

Also, what was the property stolen in 10/8 report, where did the incident occur and what time of day. Was anybody injured?

RIOC chose not to answer these inquires. In the past, I could ask Public Safety Director Keith Guerra about a particular incident and in most cases Mr. Guerra would reply promptly with an explanation as to what occurred. That is no longer the case because Mr. Guerra is not permitted to respond to press/blogger inquires. All inquiries regarding Roosevelt Island issues must be funneled through RIOC's Community Relations Office. In consultation with the appropriate RIOC staff, the Community Relations Office will determine if and to what extent a response is provided.

How the exchange of information between RIOC, the Roosevelt Islander Blog and the Roosevelt Island community will function going forward is still a work in progress. I have had long conversations with RIOC's Vice President of Operations Fernando Martinez on this issue and expect that dialogue to continue. I respect both Mr. Martinez and his position on the issue but profoundly disagree with the recent changes in how RIOC chooses to inform the Roosevelt Island community, particularly in regard to Public Safety incidents.

Received the following message from the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association (RISA):

We all know what an integral part of the community seniors are. This year, The Roosevelt Island Senior Association is faced with the daunting challenges of this economic crisis.

Our senior population is a forgotten population. Are you aware of how many seniors are alone without any family and have no assistance throughout the day? RISA has become their extended family. RISA is devoted to its mission to enhance the well-being of senior citizens from all ethnicity and financial backgrounds. The center promotes the general welfare of senior citizens and provides programs to meet the physical, social, civic and recreational needs for the senior population on RI.

The center provides programs and services that help our senior residents live more independently, with greater productivity and a sense of pride. Included in our activities along with several recreational programs, is a weekly lunch program for all seniors. Budget cuts have limited our ability to provide many of these programs to seniors.

On Saturday, October 22, 2011 we will be having a Casino Night fundraiser in collaboration with Manhattan Park, at 8 River Rd. Roosevelt Island, NY, with light refreshments and cash bar. On behalf of the Roosevelt Island Senior Association on Roosevelt Island, we are seeking your support, which is a great vote of confidence in our mission. Tickets for this event are $50 each in advance. This includes your admission, $150 “funny money” and refreshments. Grand prize is a Flat Screen TV plus many other gifts and prizes. RISA is a 501 C3 so your contribution will be tax deductible. For further information, please contact our Committee Chair Wendy Hersh email whersh@nyc.rr.com or Barbara Parker at newimageb@aol.com.

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Welcome to the Roosevelt Islander Online!

Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.

The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.